Pop-corn machine



SeptB, 192s. 1,552,811

I W. F. ZIEGLER no? cm magma:

" Filed Nov. 21, 1921 2 Santa-shut 1 .IIHHHlllllllllllllllllT r Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

WILLIAM I. ZIEG-LEB, F BALI-11A, KANSAS.

ror-coait uncnnm Application fled Iovember 21, 1521. Serial 1.. 510,015.

To whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Znnmm, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Salina, county of Saline, State of Kansas,

have invented a certain new and useful I mprovement in Pop-Corn Machines, of WhlCh the following is a complete specificatlon.

This invention relates to pop corn machines and has for one of its objects to produce a machine which canbe readily knocked down for shipment, and which is self-contained in that it requires no special shipping case, and is, therefore, well adapted for use by pop corn vendors following county fans or other traveling amusements compames.

A. further object is to produce a pop corn machine which when set up for operation provides a plurality of shelves for the displty of articles, such as candy, gum, or the Another object is to produce a machine of the character described, in which the agitation of pop corn during the operation of the machine may be carried on either by hfiid or foot power, as found most desira e.

A still further object is to produce a ma' chine ofthe character setforth of simple, durable, economical, eflicien; and inexpensive construction; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of the machine artly broken away to illustrate parts hiden, and shows one of the wings of the machine in lowered or operative position to form a shelf. a

Figure 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4, is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on the line V--V of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the machine as it will appear when ready for shipment.

Figure 7 is a section on the line VI[-'VII of Figure 6.

In the said drawings, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, B represents a box member of substantially rectangular form and composed of a top 1 and bottom 2, the latter being of slightly greater length than the former. Securing the top and bottom memhere together is algolid back 3,;nd occupymg a correspon osition. ut o 'te therefrom is a fron 1 1 ppm slstmg preferably of four pieces, as illustrated, and to which is pivoted a door 5 hmged as at 6 to one of the vertical frame members 4 and bearing a plate of glass G.

Fitting between the front andback of the box and resting on the bottom are a'pair of s1de frames 7 carrying glass windows G.

In order'to protect the sides when the box is dismantled and form shelves when the machine is ready 'for use, a pair of win 8 of equal area to that of the sldes of the x, are hmged, as at 9-, to the undermost side frame members 7 at the opposite sides of the box, and said wings are adapted when in operative position to be maintained in a su stantially horizontal plane for use as shelves by means of-cords 9, equipped at their opposlte ends with snap hooks 10. Said snap ooks respectively engage at their ends with hinged hasps 11 secured to the outer ends so of the wings, and staples 12 secured to the top 1 as clearly shown in the drawings. It will be evident that the wings offer convenient shelves for the support and display of popped corn, candy, chewing gum, and the like.

The bottom of the box is adapted to be supported by four legs 13' removably secured to the box bottom by fastening means such as bolts 14 and nuts 14" and are equipped at their lower ends with casters 15 for convenience in moving the machine, as will be readily understood. In order to convenientl brace the legs, a plate 16, is provided suitable openings 16 for the reception of the legs as shown in Figure 1, and said plate is also adapted to form a shelf and rest on suitable stop pins or cotters 17 secured in the legs. It will be evident that the late 16 will form, a convenient shelf and w' at the 7 same time, wedge the legs 'apart and reliably hold-them in such position.

In order that the plate 16 may be used as a closure for the front of the machine when it is desired to dismantle same for shipment, p

it is provided at one end with a' air-of sta-- ples 18 and atthe other end wi a pair of hinged hasps 19. When the box is dismantled the legs are removed and plate 16 is adapted to rest on the projecting end of no the bottom 2 and between the side margins of the wings (see Figure 6), the staples beame member 4, con- I A pair of the snap-equipped cords are used in securing the plate 16 in position, as each wing is held in position by the engagement of the snap hooks of but a single cord with the adjacent hasps 11 of the top, as will be clearly apparent upon reference to the drawings.

The preferable form of popping mechanism is, as follows: 22 illustrates a skilletsupporting ring having ends 22 bolted to 1B the back of the box, and a series of underlying lips 23 upon which the bottom of the skillet S is adapted to rest. The ring 22 is held in positlon by means of braces 24 bolted or otherwise secured to the back of the box.

Secured in position against the inner face of the back wall, is a bracket 25 which securely holds in position a liquid feed pipe 26 equipped at its upper end with a suitable 95 receptacle 27 controlled by a hand valve 27. The lower end of the feed pipeis in communication with a burner 28 controlled by a valve 28 of any suitable or preferred type and located just below the skillet sup- IO port, as illustrated.

As it is desirable to agitate the pop corn in the skillet, a section of pipe 29of suflicient length to extend from the bottom of the skillet to the top of the upper surface of the box, is provided. A series of agitating fingers 30 are adapted for rotation around the skillet and are rigid with a rod 31 which passes through pipe 29 and is fixedly secured thereto. Rod 31 extends some distance exterior to the box and is formed at its upper end with a crank handle equipped with a knob 31 for convenience in revolving .rod 31 and pipe 29. In order to provide a longer bearing for the pipe 29, a block 32 is secured to the inner surface of the top through which the pipe passes.

To provide a lid for the skillet and convenient means for lifting the lid when found desirable, a plate 33 of any convenient diameter is slidingly mounted on ipe 29, and when it is desired to raise the id, the rod 31 is pulled upwardly and the pipe 29, red 31 and agitator fingers are moved upwardly until the lid is raised by abutment with the fingers, as will be apparent.

To dispose the agitator in position, a suitable opening 34 is formed in the top for the passage of the crank arm handle, the knob being removable to permit of this operation.

As it may be desirable at certain times to agitate the machine by foot instead of revolving the agitatorby hand, a length of cord 37 is secured to the crank arm, and asses over a pulley 38 set in an opening mthe top, and is connected with the upper end of a retractile spring 39 secured to the bottom of the box (see Figure 1), the spring acting to cause the crank handle to move in one direction, and in order to pull it in the other direction the other end of the cord passes over a pulley 41 set in a second opening in the top, and down through an opening 42 in the bottom of the box and an opening 43 in the member 16 and at its lower end is provided with a suitable treadle 44 for enga ement by the foot of the operator. It W111 evident that with the provision of six agitating fingers, but a' small amount of rotation of said fingers will be necessary to scrape the entire surface of the skillet and prevent the corn from sticking thereto. 1

To guard against the cracking of the glass during the popping operation a suitable door 45 is provided in the top and is hinged thereto as at 46 to be opened to permit of free circulation of air within the machine.

It is believed that no recapitulation of the operation will be necessary other than to state that when the machine is dismantled for shipment the li uid fuel container, the candy or gum, an the like may be packed in the box, the legs forming a separate package, and the shelf 16 and wings 8 protecting the glass of the door and win-' dows.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a device of the character described which possesses all of the features of advantage set forth as desirable, and while I have described and claimed the preferred embodiment of the same, I reserve the right to make all changes properly falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a pop corn machine, the combination with a box member having a hinged door for one of its sides, glass plates fitted in a pair of op site sides of said box, a pair of wings hinged to the bottom and adapted to swing up across said glass-equipped sides and be detachably secured in position, a series of detachable legs supporting said box, and a plate having means adapted when the machine is in operative osition vto act as a brace for said legs and w en the machine is in inoperative position to form a detachable closure for said door equipped side.

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM F. ZIEGLER 5 

